Leichhardt River
| Leichhardt | |
|---|---|
 Leichhardt River atStokes,2013 | |
  Location of Leichhardt Riverriver mouthin Queensland | |
| Etymology | Ludwig Leichhardt |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Gulf Country |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Rifle Creek |
| • location | Selwyn Range,Australia |
| • elevation | 406 m (1,332 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Gulf of Carpentaria,Australia |
• coordinates | 17°34′46″S139°47′37″E/ 17.57944°S 139.79361°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 630 km (390 mi) |
| Basin size | 32,878 km2(12,694 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 69 m3/s (2,400 cu ft/s) |
| [1] | |
TheLeichhardt Riveris a river in north-westQueensland,Australia.
Course
[edit]The source of the river is in theSelwyn Rangeunder Rifle Creek Hill and fed by Rifle Creek approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the mining townMount Isa.It runs in a generally northerly direction almost parallel with theDiamantina Developmental Roaduntil it reaches Mount Isa and crosses theBarkly Highway.It continues in a north easterly direction across theGulf Countrypassing throughLake Moondarrapast Glenroy Station then throughLake Julius.It then bears east then north again almost parallel with theBurke Developmental Roaduntil crossing it near Nardoo. Continuing north pastAugustus Downs Stationto its mouth at theGulf of Carpentaria.[1]
The river was named by explorer and surveyorAugustus Charles Gregoryafter the early explorer of Australia,Ludwig Leichhardt.Gregory chose the name because:[2]
"Two days' journey S.E. brought us to a river 100 yards wide, in detached pools. (Latitude 18 degrees 12 minutes, longitude 189 degrees 65 minutes.) This river was mistaken for the Albert by Dr. Leichhardt, and I therefore named it after that enterprising explorer."
Catchment
[edit]Leichhardt River has acatchment areaof 32,878 square kilometres (12,694 sq mi).[3]Primary activities undertaken in the watershed include mining and grazing.
The river isephemeraland in thedry seasonthe upstream reaches retract to a series of waterholes. Thedrainage basinand riverestuaryare in a near pristine condition.[4]
The river is dammed near Mount Isa to form Lake Moondarra. Other storage facilities in the catchment includeJulius Dam,East Leichhardt DamandRifle Creek Dam.[3]Around 50 kilometres (31 mi) upstream from its mouth are theLeichhardt Falls.As well as Mount Isa, the small community ofKajabbiis located on the river.
The river has a mean annual discharge of 2,179 gigalitres (2.85×109cu yd).[5]
History
[edit]In 2009Xstrataspent $3 million for remediation work involving the removal of 40,000 tonnes of material from the riverbed.[6]
Fossil remains have been found along the river's course. In 2011 an unidentified ancientmarsupialwas discovered bypaleontologists.[7]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Map of Leichhardt River, QLD".Bonzle Digital Atlas.Digital Atlas Pty Limited. 2015.Retrieved31 May2015.
- ^"PARLIAMENTARY PAPER".The North Australian, Ipswich And General Advertiser.Vol. II, no. 71. Queensland, Australia. 3 February 1857. p. 4.Retrieved22 July2024– via National Library of Australia.
- ^ab"Water resources - Overview - Queensland: Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Leichhardt River".Australian National Resources Atlas.Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 15 June 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2012.Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^"Estuary Assessment 2000: Basin: Leichhardt River".Australian National Resources Atlas.Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 20 June 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2011.Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^"The Land - Overview".Southern Gulf Catchments. Archived fromthe originalon 11 April 2015.Retrieved31 May2015.
- ^Meera Nambiar (10 November 2009)."Miner spends $3m on river clean-up".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^David Lewis (6 December 2011)."Ancient marsupial skull like 'Planet of the Apes leftover'".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved11 June2012.
External links
[edit]
Media related toLeichhardt Riverat Wikimedia Commons
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